How can the surgeon choose preoperatively the most appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis vs therapy in pediatric acute appendicitis?

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to find statistically valid criteria to preoperatively divide acute appendicitis into simple and complicated to enable surgeons to administer the most appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis/therapy before surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of patients who underwent appendectomy from January 2022 to December 2023. Patients included were 0-14 years of age. Exclusion criteria included patients who underwent interval appendectomy or concurrent procedures at the same time of appendectomy. We divided patients into two groups: simple (group S) and complicated (group C) appendicitis according to intraoperative finding. Generalized linear model (GLM) with logit function was developed to identify the predictive variables of the type of appendicitis (S vs C) in terms of CRP value, neutrophils percentage and WBC count adjusted for age and sex of patients. Finally, principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out to identify the cutoff value of statistically significant variables found in the previous analysis. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty patients were eligible (N female = 49, N male = 71) for the study. 74 and 46 patients were included in groups S and C, respectively. In a preliminary analysis using univariate and multivariate GLM, only CRP (p value = < 0.001) and neutrophils percentage (p value = 0.02) were predictive variables for the type of appendicitis. The GLM shows a statistical lower value of CRP (adjusted odds ratio [OR] per unit, 0.17 [95% CI, 0.08-0.39]) and neutrophil percentage (adjusted OR per unit, 0.37 [95% CI, 0.16-0.86]) in the S group compared to C adjusted to age and sex. PCA analysis revealed a P-ROC cutoff of 4.2 mg/dl and 80.1 of CRP value (AUC = 84%) and neutrophil percentage (AUC = 70%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We will perform a prospective study giving preoperative prophylactic cefazolin to patients with a CRP value under 4.2 mg/dl and amoxicillin-clavulanate therapy to patient with CRP value over 4.2 mg/dl.

Pediatric kidney transplantation: is it safe to perform during night-time or day-off?

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of after-hours surgery on the outcomes of pediatric kidney transplantation (KT). METHODS: Medical records of pediatric KTs performed at a single institution between 2013 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The population was split into three groups according to the incision time and calendar: ordinary day (8.00 AM - 6.30 PM), day-off, and night-time (6.30 PM - 8.00 AM). The following endpoints were compared: ischemia times, length of surgery, complications, delayed graft function (DGF), primary graft non-function (PGNF), and eGFR at three-month follow-up. RESULTS: Ninety-six non-living donor KTs were performed, median age 11 (IQR 4.3-14) years and median body weight 26 (IQR 13-50) kg. Forty-one (43%) were performed during night-time and 28 (29%) during day-off. Ischemia times were similar (p = 0.769, p = 0.536). Day-off KTs presented an extended length of surgery (p = 0.011). Thirty-two complications were reported in 31 KTs. No difference in the overall rate of complications, DGF, PNGF, and three-month eGFR was found (p = 0.669, p = 0.383, p = 0.949, p = 0.093). Post-operative bleedings were more common in days-off (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The number of pediatric KTs performed during after-hours was considerable. Even though similar outcomes were reported, more caution should be focused on the KTs performed in days-off to avoid severe complications.

The role of mini-PCNL as primary approach for the treatment of pediatric kidney stones in a high-income country. Ten-year single-center report.

PURPOSE: To describe our experience in the use of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) as a primary treatment for paediatric kidney stones and to highlight its benefits. METHODS: The design was retrospective and observational. All the children treated for kidney stones from 2011 to 2021 were included. The population was divided into Group A (PCNL) and Group B (retrograde intrarenal surgery, RIRS). The outcomes were stone-free rate (SFR), the rate of procedures per patient, the rate of failure and the rate of complications. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with 33 kidney units were included. Eighteen of them (64%) were males. The median age was 10 (IQR 6.8-13) years. Forty-seven procedures were performed. Twenty-four of them (51%) were mini-PCNL. Group A included 17 patients (61%). Group A presented a higher SFR (p = 0.007) and a lower number of procedures (p < 0.001). RIRS failed in five cases (45%) because of non-compliant ureter. Two urinary tract infections (UTI) were reported after PCNL and four UTIs after RIRS (p = 0.121). No major complications were reported. CONCLUSION: Mini-PCNL should be suggested as a primary approach for pediatric kidney stones. This technique presented a better effectiveness with a reduced number of procedures when compared to RIRS.

Glans dehiscence after severe hypospadias repair. Is it a real complication? Clues from a study in post-pubertal patients.

INTRODUCTION: Glans dehiscence (GD) is reportedly a common complication after proximal hypospadias repairs. However, the need for surgical correction is controversial. The aim of this study was to assess awareness, risk factors, and outcome of GD in post-pubertal patients. The agreement with surgeon assessment was also evaluated. METHODS: The design was retrospective. All consecutive patients treated for proximal hypospadias between 2000 and 2011 were included. The presence of GD was self-reported, and the participants could optionally upload a photograph for surgeon assessment. Cosmetic and functional outcomes were assessed by validated questionnaires (HOSE, PPPS, KINDL®, IIEF-5). Results were compared between patients with and without GD. RESULTS: Of 219 patients, 34 (16%) participated. Fourteen of them (41%) self-reported GD. Eighteen patients (8%) also uploaded a photograph and, in ten of them (56%), the surgeon noted the presence of GD with poor agreement [k = - 0.444 (95 CI - 0.856 to - 0.033)] with patient report. Patients self-reporting GD had had more frequently a penile curvature at diagnosis (12/14 = 86%, p = 0.01), and had undergone a single-staged repair (100% vs. 65%, p = 0.03). No difference was found in cosmetic and functional outcomes. Results were similar also comparing groups with and without GD as assessed by the surgeon. CONCLUSION: GD was a common finding after severe hypospadias repair. It was more common in case of surgeon assessment with poor agreement between patients and surgeons. GD did not prove to have clear clinical implications. Therefore, in our opinion, surgical repair of GD should be recommended only on patients request.

Comparison of Cosmetic Results in Children >10 Years Old Undergoing Open, Laparoscopic or Robotic-Assisted Pyeloplasty: A Multicentric Study.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to compare surgical scars assessed by a validated patient reported outcome questionnaire in children undergoing open (OP), laparoscopic (LP), or robotic-assisted (RALP) pyeloplasty. Our secondary aim was to assess the influence on the outcomes of variables such as gender or body mass index (BMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, multicentric study of patients undergoing primary pyeloplasty between age 10 and 18 years at 5 tertiary Italian institutions during the period January 2010 to December 2019. Of 227 eligible patients 114 (50%) participated. OP was performed in 37 (32%), LP in 30 (26%) and RALP in 47 (41%), After a median (IQR) followup of 5.2 (2.3-7.8) years, scars were measured and assessed by a validated Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire. Scores were compared among techniques and in accordance with several variables. RESULTS: The median length of the surgical scar at followup was significantly larger (p <0.0001) after OP (8.1 cm vs 1.8 cm for LP and 2.0 cm for RALP), where scar length correlated with BMI (p=0.04). Ninety patients (79%) had a Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire score within the first quartile, the most favorable. During followup, 43 (38%) participants reported scar-related symptom. Symptoms were generally more common after OP (54% vs 30% for LP and 30% for RALP, p=0.06) and scar hyperesthesia was significantly more frequent after OP (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Perception of the cosmetic outcomes in pre-adolescents and adolescents after pyeloplasty was generally good. LP achieved the best cosmetic results. OP was more commonly associated with scar-related symptoms and the size of the incision paralleled BMI.

Can real-time near-infrared spectroscopy monitoring detect graft venous thrombosis after pediatric kidney transplantation?

BACKGROUND: A prompt detection of graft venous thrombosis might preserve the transplanted organ. A real-time near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitoring of the allograft perfusion could fulfill this goal. The aim of this work was to report the trend of allograft perfusion (rSO2) after pediatric kidney transplantation (KT) complicated by graft venous thrombosis. CASE PRESENTATION: An infant, affected by end-stage kidney disease due to posterior urethral valves, underwent non-living donor KT. The allograft presented both arterial and venous variants and required a complex bench surgery reconstruction. The perfusion of the allograft was monitored by real-time transcutaneous NIRS. The early post-operative was conditioned by worsening clinical conditions, and a graft venous thrombosis was detected after four hours since the transplantation. NIRS monitoring lasted for 348 minutes. Median lower pole rSO2-value was 65% (IQR 62-66%), while the median upper pole rSO2-value was 70% (IQR 70-71%). These data reflected the congestion of the lower pole, observed at the end of the transplantation. The lower pole showed inferior rSO2 values (p<0.0001). At the end of the monitoring, the decrease in peripheral rSO2, measured in left lower limb as a benchmark, was consistent with the ongoing hypovolemic shock and severe acute anemia. CONCLUSION: Transcutaneous NIRS might be a reliable device for monitoring allograft and peripheric perfusion after pediatric KT. The modifications of rSO2 values helped the clinicians manage the patients in the post-operative and early detect acute complications.

Clinical prognostic factors in pediatric adrenocortical tumors: A meta-analysis.

Pediatric adrenocortical tumors (ACT) are rare and sometimes aggressive malignancies, but there is no consensus on the outcome predictors in children. A systematic search of MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for studies from 1994 to 2020 about pediatric ACT was performed. In 42 studies, 1006 patients, aged 0-18 years, were included. The meta-analyses resulted in the following predictors of better outcome: age <4 years (P < .00001), nonsecreting tumors (P = .004), complete surgical resection (P < .00001), tumor volume (P < .0001), tumor weight (P < .00001), tumor maximum diameter (P = .0009), and Stage I disease (P < .00001). Moreover, patients affected by Cushing syndrome showed a worse outcome (P < .0001). International prospective studies should be implemented to standardize clinical prognostic factors evaluation, together with pathological scores, in the stratification of pediatric ACT.

Extraperitoneal kidney transplantation: a comparison between children weighting ≤15 kg and >15 kg. Experience of a single institution.

Extraperitoneal approach is sometimes recommended for kidney transplantation (KT) in children weighting <15 kg. We hypothesized that this approach might be as successful as in patients with normal weight. Data of all consecutive KTs performed between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Early outcomes and surgical complications were compared between children weighing ≤15 kg (low-weight (LW) group) and those weighing >15 kg (Normal-weight (NW) group). All the 108 KTs were performed through an extraperitoneal approach. The LW group included 31 patients (mean age 3.5 ± 1.4 years), whose mean weight was 11.1 ± 2.0 kg. In the LW group,-a primary graft nonfunction (PNGF) occurred in one patient (3.2%), surgical complications occurred in nine (29%), with four venous thrombosis. In the NW group, PNGF occurred in one case (1.3%), delayed graft function (DGF) in eight (10%), surgical complications in 11 (14%) with only one case of venous thrombosis. In both groups, no need for patch during wound closure and no wound dehiscence were reported. The extraperitoneal approach can be effectively used in LW children. No differences were observed in the overall complication rate (P = 0.10), except for the occurrence of venous thrombosis (P = 0.02). This might be related to patients' characteristics of the LW group.

Bench thrombolysis and "autotransplantation" as a rescue treatment for venous thrombosis after living-donor kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Allograft venous thrombosis is a severe complication after kidney transplantation (KT). Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial in preserving the survival of the allograft. In this study, we aimed to describe an emergent strategy for the management of acute allograft venous thrombosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 4-year-old girl, weighing 13.5 kg, was diagnosed with bilateral congenital renal hypodysplasia, urogenital sinus and anorectal malformation. The patient was referred to our department for living-donor KT. Her mother was eligible as a donor, presenting a body weight ratio of 1:4.5. Thrombosis of the inferior vena cava (ICV) was also identified, without any predisposing factor for thrombophilia. KT was performed by an extraperitoneal approach without complications. Venous anastomosis required a human vascular graft sutured to the ICV, and renal artery was anastomosed to the aorta. On postoperative day (POD) 8, acute abdominal pain and hematuria led to the diagnosis of an allograft venous thrombosis. An emergent laparotomy was required to explant the allograft, followed by bench surgery. The allograft was irrigated with thrombolytic agents and lactated Ringer's solution and then after removing the venous vascular graft, it was reimplanted through vascular anastomosis with the ICV and aorta. The recovery of perfusion and function was good with diuresis since day 4 after re-surgery. At 2-year follow-up, the child presented normal allograft function with an estimated GFR of 65 ml/min/1.73 m2 . CONCLUSION: According to our experience, explantation of the kidney allograft, followed by irrigation with thrombolytics in bench surgery, and reimplantation resulted in unexpected optimal outcomes in the case of allograft venous thrombosis.

Could a careful clinical examination distinguish physiologic phimosis from balanitis xerotica obliterans in children?

The diagnosis of balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO) in children may be challenging, since clinical examination only could lead to an underestimation of its incidence. The aim of this retrospective and single-centre study is to assess the diagnostic performance of clinical examination, together with clinical history, in identifying BXO. Ninety-seven children underwent circumcision for phimosis from 2015 to 2019. Histology was routinely performed. Cohen's kappa coefficient, sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios and accuracy of macroscopic appearance of the foreskin, steroid administration and past medical history were estimated. Forty-eight patients (50%) were affected by BXO; 31 of them (69%) presented with suggestive clinical signs. A strictured or whitish urethral meatus was detected during surgery in nine cases (19%); this was associated to allergic or immune diseases (p = 0.046). Foreskin appearance alone mildly correlated with histology (k = 0.494; p < 0.001) and it showed a diagnostic accuracy of 75%. The specificity and positive predictive value of abnormal macroscopic findings at examination, together with a positive clinical history for other allergic or immune diseases, and/or for balanitis, were 100% and the positive likelihood ratio was greater than 10. Conversely, sensitivity decreased to 4.5% (95% CI 0-11%).Conclusion: Foreskin appearance together with clinical history could predict BXO with certainty. However, since the absence of a positive medical history could not exclude the diagnosis, foreskin histology is still highly recommended. What is Known: • Occurrence of balanitis xerotica obliterans may be underestimated in children and it could lead to long-term complications. • The diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination is controversial. What is New: • Clinical signs together with patients' medical history present high specificity and positive predictive values but low sensitivity. • When suggestive clinical aspects are present, patient should be referred to surgery avoiding prolonged conservative treatment; and preputial histology is highly recommended.

Transcutaneous near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for monitoring kidney and liver allograft perfusion.

BACKGROUND: The use of transcutaneous near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for monitoring the perfusion of kidney and liver allografts has been proposed in the last years. This device might detect an early decrease in allograft oxygenation allowing prompt detection of vascular complications. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature about the use of transcutaneous NIRS in monitoring allograft perfusion was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: The authors screened 1313 papers. The search yielded five pertinent articles. Three of them reported the experience of NIRS in kidney transplantation and the other two dealt with its use in liver transplantation, for a total of 55 paediatric patients and 121 adults. In the studies concerning kidney transplantation, NIRS measurements were significantly related to serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (u-NGAL), serum lactate, resistive index assessed by Doppler-ultrasonography and systolic blood pressure. The two studies dealing with liver transplantation found a significant decrease in liver regional oxygenation, assessed by NIRS, before the occurrence of vascular complications. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary studies have related NIRS monitoring to kidney and liver allograft perfusion, both in adults and children. Further investigation is needed to establish the normal range of NIRS values and the factors influencing NIRS monitoring.

Multidisciplinary management of a rare case of mixed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

INTRODUCTION: Mixed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a extremely rare congenital heart disease. METHODS: We report the initial management of a case of Mixed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection associated to right extralobar bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS). RESULTS: Mixed TAPVC associated to right extra-lobar BPS was diagnosed at birth in a full-term newborn. At one month of age, the patient underwent embolization of the BPS, complicated by coil entrapment in the right common iliac artery requiring urgent laparotomy. Few days later, the congenital cardiac repair was accomplished uneventfully. At 12-months follow-up, the patient did not have pulmonary hypertension, but presented a moderate stenosis of the right femoral artery, which was effectively treated with anticoagulation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The multidisciplinary approach allowed a successful treatment of these complex anomalies and the related potential complications.

Parental Decisional Regret after Primary Distal Hypospadias Repair: Family and Surgery Variables, and Repair Outcomes.

PURPOSE: Decisional regret is defined as distress after making a health care choice and can be an issue for parents electing distal hypospadias repair for their sons. We assessed the influence on decisional regret of variables related to the family, surgery and outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Charts for 372 patients undergoing primary distal hypospadias repair between 2005 and 2012 were reviewed, and validated questionnaires, including the Decisional Regret Scale, Pediatric Penile Perception Score and Dysfunctional Voiding and Incontinence Scoring System, were administered to parents. RESULTS: Data were available for 172 of 372 families (response rate 46.2%). Of 323 parents 128 (39.6%) presented with moderately strong decisional regret, with good agreement within couples. Predictors of decisional regret included intermediate parental educational level (OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.52-6.69), patient not being the first born (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.07-3.78), family history of hypospadias (OR 4.42, 95% CI 1.96-9.97), initial desire to avoid surgery (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.04-4.12), younger age at followup (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.72-0.91), presence of lower urinary tract symptoms (OR 4.92, 95% CI 1.53-15.81) and lower Pediatric Penile Perception Score (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75-0.99). Decisional regret was unrelated to parental desire to avoid circumcision, surgical variables, development of complications and duration of followup. CONCLUSIONS: Decisional regret is a problem in a significant proportion of parents electing distal hypospadias repair for their sons. In our experience family variables seemed to be predictors of decisional regret, while surgical variables did not. Predictors of decisional regret included worse parental perception of penile appearance and the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms. However, the latter could be unrelated to surgery. Irrespective of the duration of followup, decisional regret seems decreased in parents of older patients.

Risk Factors for Failure of Endoscopic Balloon Dilatation of Primary Obstructive Megaureter: Single-Center 12-Year Experience with 123 Cases.

Purpose: To review our experience with >100 patients with primary obstructive megaureter (POM) undergoing endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) and a follow-up of up to 12 years and determine potential risk factors for failure. Our hypothesis is that EBD allows for long-term treatment in >80% of patients, and its effectiveness decreases in more severe cases. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 123 consecutive patients (131 ureters) undergoing EBD from 2009 to 2021. Indications for EBD included symptoms, worsening dilatation, and/or renal function impairment. Clinical characteristics, complications, and outcomes, including those in the patients with >5-year follow-up, were described. Preoperative and intraoperative markers of severity chosen a priori were tested as risk factors for failure. Failure was defined as the need for ureteral reimplantation after EBD. Results: EBD was feasible in 121 of 123 (98%) patients, regardless of age. After a median follow-up of 38 (9-143) months, EBD was effective in 84.5% of cases. Failures generally occurred in the 1st year after EBD and were seldom associated with permanent loss of renal function. Of the 66 patients with follow-up >5 years, EBD was effective in 56 patients. No preoperative characteristic proved to be a risk factor for failure. The intraoperative absence of a ring was the only significant risk factor for failure, odd ratio 117.86 (95% confidence interval 6.27-2215.84). Conclusions: EBD was feasible and definitive treatment in 85% of our cases, regardless of age. Since this study did not identify preoperative factors to help the clinicians in patient selection, we consider EBD a viable initial procedure in all patients with POM who require surgical intervention, especially in infants.

A survival analysis of cuffed tunneled silicon central venous catheters in children affected by short bowel syndrome: A lesson from the past.

BACKGROUND: Tunneled central venous catheters (CVC) are crucial in the management of children affected by short bowel syndrome (SBS). This work aims to investigate the outcomes of tunneled CVC and to identify factors influencing their survival. METHODS: All the children diagnosed with SBS and undergone a procedure of insertion of a tunneled CVC from 2010 to 2019 were included. Demographic data and surgical information about the procedures were collected. Regression models and Kaplan-Meier analysis were performed to estimate the survival. RESULTS: Eighteen patients, eight males (44%), with a median length of residual bowel measuring 72 cm (IQR 50-102 cm), were enrolled. Thirty-nine Broviac CVCs were inserted with a mean number of 2.2 CVCs per patient and 13365 line-days. The overall incidence of complications was 3.2/1000 line-days, and the incidence of central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) was 1.1/1000 line-days. No episode of catheter thrombosis was reported. The median survival was 269 days (IQR 82-1814 days). The survival was negatively influenced by a younger age at insertion (R2 = 0.29; p < 0.001), 2.7 Fr diameter (median survival 76 days; p < 0.001) and the occurrence of complications (median survival 169 days; p = 0.002). The length of residual bowel was a mild risk factor for anticipated removal (OR 1.1; CI95 1.0-1.1; p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: CVC-related complications negatively influenced the survival of the line. An elder age at insertion together with a larger CVC diameter increased the survival of the line, while a shorter residual bowel was associated with an anticipated removal due to complications.

Complex Bench Surgery Does Not Increase the Risk of Vascular Complications after Pediatric Kidney Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Vascular complications are severe complications of pediatric kidney transplantation (KT). We aimed to investigate whether a complex bench surgery (BS) affects the outcomes. METHODS: All pediatric KT performed at the University Hospital of Padua from 2015 to 2019 were analyzed, comparing those in which a standard BS was possible to those that necessitated a complex BS. The rates of vascular complications, patients' outcome, and graft survival were compared in the two groups. RESULTS: Eighty KTs were performed in 78 patients with a median age of 11 years (interquartile range [IQR] 4.3-14) and a median body weight of 24 kg (IQR 13-37). Thirty-nine donor kidneys (49%) needed a complex BS due to anomalies of renal veins in 12 (31%) and renal arteries in 16 (41%). The remaining 11 grafts (28%) underwent an elongation of the vein. There was no difference in the rate of primary graft non function (p = 0.97), delayed graft function (p = 0.72), and overall survival (p = 0.27). The rates of vascular complications, bleedings, and venous graft thrombosis were similar (p = 0.51, p = 0.59, p = 0.78, respectively). No arterial thrombosis or stenosis was reported. CONCLUSION: Complex BS did not compromise survival of the graft and did not put the allograft at risk of vascular complications, such as bleedings or thrombosis.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis for the Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections in Children: Guideline and Recommendations from the Emilia-Romagna Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections (UTI-Ped-ER) Study Group.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) represents one of the most common infectious diseases and a major cause of antibiotic prescription in children. To prevent recurrent infections and long-term complications, low-dose continuous antibiotic prophylaxis (CAP) has been used. However, the efficacy of CAP is controversial. The aim of this document was to develop updated guidelines on the efficacy and safety of CAP to prevent pediatric UTIs. Methods: A panel of experts on pediatric infectious diseases, pediatric nephrology, pediatric urology, and primary care was asked clinical questions concerning the role of CAP in preventing UTIs in children. Overall, 15 clinical questions were addressed, and the search strategy included accessing electronic databases and a manual search of gray literature published in the last 25 years. After data extraction and narrative synthesis of results, recommendations were developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) methodology. Results: The use of CAP is not recommended in children with a previous UTI, with recurrent UTIs, with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) of any grade, with isolated hydronephrosis, and with neurogenic bladder. CAP is suggested in children with significant obstructive uropathies until surgical correction. Close surveillance based on early diagnosis of UTI episodes and prompt antibiotic therapy is proposed for conditions in which CAP is not recommended. Conclusions: Our systematic review shows that CAP plays a limited role in preventing recurrences of UTI in children and has no effect on its complications. On the other hand, the emergence of new antimicrobial resistances is a proven risk.

Pediatric urology research in 2020: A bibliometric analysis of the top 100 most cited articles.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric Urology deals with genitourinary diseases. Present study aimed to collect the top-cited article in Pediatric Urology in order to define the most debated and studied topics. METHODS: The journals reported in "Urology & Nephrology" category of the 2019 edition of Journal Citation Reports, together with the most relevant journals of "Transplantation," "Pediatrics," and "Surgery" categories, were browsed. The articles of interest in Pediatric Urology with more than 50 citations were collected. A bibliometric analysis was performed to collect the top 100 cited articles. RESULTS: The top-cited articles were published in 27 journals (23%), with a median impact factor of 2.676 (IQR 1.981-5.642). Seventeen of them (63%) belonged to "Urology and Nephrology" category. The median number of citations was 82 (IQR 64-113). The most productive journal, with 23 articles, was "The Journal of Urology." Forty-eight top-cited articles were Guidelines or Reviews of the literature and only four papers were randomized controlled trials. The most relevant topic was "congenital anomalies" with 18 articles. As to minimally invasive surgery, eight studies were identified. All of them dealt with robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery. Two articles reported the current evidence about transitional care. CONCLUSIONS: The top-cited articles were dispersed among journals of different areas. Current scientific literature deal with congenital anomalies, more specifically with obstructive uropathies and hypospadias. In the last decade, one of the most relevant innovation in pediatric urology was the introduction of robotic surgery. Transitional care has become a timely topic.

Robot-Assisted Versus Laparoscopic Approach for Splenectomy in Children: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Aim: To compare the outcomes of pediatric splenectomies for hematologic diseases performed by robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) and laparoscopic approach. Materials and Methods: Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases were systematically searched for publications in English language from January 2000 to March 2020. All the studies dealing with pediatric elective splenectomies performed by RALS were included. The primary outcomes were the rate of postoperative complications and conversion. The secondary outcomes were the length of hospital stay and the operative time. Results: The search yielded 969 articles. Ten articles were included in the systematic review. Eighty patients underwent RALS splenectomy. Thirteen postoperative complications (16%) were reported and RALS was converted to open surgery in five cases (6.3%). Five of the included articles, three retrospective studies and two case series, were considered relevant for the meta-analysis and dealt with 130 patients. Of them, 71 children (55%) underwent RALS. No difference in the rate of complications was found between the two approaches (P = .235). RALS presented a similar rate of conversion to open surgery (P = .301). The mean operative times and length of hospital stays for RALS, reported in three different studies, were 107.5, 159.6, 140.5 minutes and 4.2, 3.93, 2.1 days, respectively. Conclusion: Even if few studies were included in the review, this meta-analysis reported similar rates of complication and conversion for RALS when compared with laparoscopy. Further studies are required to prove that this innovative technique was as safe and feasible as the current gold standard technique.